Tag: SAR

Wireless modules are increasingly being integrated into everyday products, like refrigerators, cars, and consumer medical devices. Therefore, more manufacturers need to be aware of the regulatory requirements of wireless transmitters.

The manufacturer of the wireless-enabled product is responsible for its overall compliance. Module manufacturers must provide clear instructions of integration to any host product manufacturer.

Since the R&TTE Directive does not make specific reference to wireless modules, there are no strict rules to follow, but there are a few general guidelines to keep in mind:

When an R&TTE compliant module is integrated into a final host product, no further radio compliance testing is required, provided the module is integrated in accordance with its manufacturer’s instructions

The final host product must always meet the other essential safety and EMC requirements of the directive

The most common method of demonstrating compliance and a presumption of conformity with R&TTE is by using harmonized standards

The R&TTE Compliance Association has issued guidance on the use of wireless modules: Technical Guidance Note 01 on the R&TTED compliance requirements for a Radio Module and the Final Product that integrates a Radio Module, May 2013.

North America
In the U.S. and Canada, the approval process is straightforward, unless there are multiple modules integrated together.

The Federal Communications Commission’s (FCC) rules on module integration are explained in CFR 47 Part 15.212, with further detail in the guidance document KDB 996369. The Industry Canada rules for modules are similar to those of the FCC and are spelled out in RSS-GEN Section 3.

In order for a wireless module to meet the requirements of FCC Part 15, it must comply with the requirements for shielded circuitry, a unique antenna connector, stand-alone configuration, and RF exposure limits. Once these guidelines are met, FCC modular approval is granted through a TCB like MET Labs, and the product may be operated under certain conditions of use. If the conditions of the grant are met, further testing is not required for the intentional radiator part of the host equipment.

Where multiple modules are integrated together, the rules can become more complex. This is particularly true if the host device is to be used in a portable application within 20cm of the human head or body and RF exposure becomes a major issue. Then SAR testing is required.

Where the conditions of the modular grant cannot be adhered to when integrated into the final host, additional testing and certification is usually required.

To determine whether your product needs Specific Absorption Rate (SAR) testing, there are a few items to consider.

MET's DASY SAR Testing System

First, is the device operated within 20cm (7.87”) of the head or body? If no, then SAR does not apply. If yes, then SAR does apply, but testing may be excluded based on the device’s output power.

The maximum conducted output power is the average conducted power at the antenna port plus any production tolerance. When calculating output power, keep in mind the device’s duty-cycle. For SAR, the on and off time-averaged power is to be considered. So if not already accounted for, the duty cycle factor may be applied directly to the output power.

To determine whether the output power is below the threshold for testing, it depends on where the device is being certified for. Here are some common jurisdictions:

CanadaIndustry Canada stipulates the exclusion threshold in RSS-102. For 3kHz – 1GHz it is 200mW, for 1GHz – 2.2GHz it is 100mW, for 2.2GHz – 3GHz it is 20mW and for 3GHz – 6GHz it is 10mW. Note that per Industry Canada, output power is always the higher of conducted or equivalent isotropically radiated power (EIRP).

Europe
In the EU, the threshold is given in IEC/EN 62479:2010. A simple formula is used: Pmax = SARmax * m.

For each jurisdiction, if the devices output power is less than the threshold, SAR testing is not required. However, in most cases, a statement showing why it is excluded and how it still meets the requirements must be submitted.

This post is a good summary of SAR testing exclusions, but is not inclusive of all scenarios. Contact us to find out if your product is subject to SAR testing in these or other global markets.

Sign up for one of our upcoming complimentary wireless product testing seminars in Silicon Valley, California:

At the recent Telecommunication Certification Body Council Workshop in Baltimore, Kwok Chan and Mark Neumann of the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Office of Engineering and Technology outlined testing and certification requirements for Consumer Wireless Charging Devices.

Wireless Charging Device

Wireless charging devices are generally used to charge batteries in portable electronic devices via magnetic induction. Chargers can deliver up to 5W of power, enough to charge most wireless handsets, and work at distances up to 10mm.

These products have been around since the 1990s, but only have become practical in recent years, so FCC thought it was worthwhile to cover how these devices fall into the existing regulatory compliance framework. Following are main points from the presentation.

Authorization
Chargers and clients are generally approved separately; however, they should satisfy compliance in both standalone mode and as a system.

Wireless charging devices can be approved under Part 15 or Part 18 or both rule parts.

Part 15 authorization required if:

Primary charging frequency includes information not related to power management

A secondary frequency is used for communications

Part 18 authorization for the charger and clients:

Load and power management must be integral to wireless charging operation and frequency

May not communicate any information not related to power management and control

Proximity of the charger and client device(s) must satisfy Part 18 requirement that the RF energy is locally generated and used

Other communications are authorized separately under Part 15

Electromagnetic Compatibility (EMC) considerations:

Charger must be evaluated with appropriate client(s) in place

The worst case transmitting conditions for the system as a whole must be evaluated for each applicable configuration: Bluetooth, WWan, WLan, etc.

Radio Frequency Exposure
Single client low power devices generally do not present exposure concerns for nearby users, but multi-client devices or short-distance power transfer can result in widely varied fields and potential exposure concerns.

For most small consumer chargers, exposure conditions identified in §2.1091(d)(4) may apply.

Any day now, the FCC is expected to publish a Notice of Inquiry, which will be open to public comment for a couple months. After that, the commission may issue some proposed rules. After another comment period, the FCC could issue a final rule.

It is unlikely there will be a change to the SAR regulations. The last time the FCC proposed a change to its RF rules was in 2003, and these minor-change amendments are still pending.

The FCC’s current SAR limits are already the tightest in the world. SAR is the rate at which your body absorbs energy from a radio-frequency magnetic field. It’s measured in watts per kilogram or W/kg. To be considered safe, every cell phone model sold in the U.S. must adhere to a SAR that’s less than 1.6 watts per kilogram taken over a volume containing a mass of 1 gram of tissue, even under the worst conditions.

The likely reason for the review of the cell phone radiation exposure rules now? The Government Accountability Office (GAO) has been looking into the adequacy of the cell phone standard, and the FCC wants to be seen as proactive in this area.

Responsible for cell phone SAR compliance? Join us in September for a complimentary Wireless Seminar on the East Coast or West Coast that will cover SAR regulations for personal electronic devices.

Following are recent and near future changes to electrical product regulatory requirements in South Korea.

Effective January 1, 2012, the Korean Communications Commission (KCC) requires radiated emission measurements at the limit, above 1GHz, by the highest internal source of the device and also conducted disturbance testing for devices with telecommunication ports. The limit is the same as CISPR 22:2006.

Effective July 1, 2012, the Ministry of Knowledge Economy (MKE) will assume responsibility for regulating safety of electrical products sold in Korea, a role currently carried out by KCC. After July 1, KCC will only regulate IT/RF/Telecom products.

Effective January 1, 2013, KCC plans to expand its existing SAR requirements for mobile phones to include all radio equipment that is used within 20 cm of the human body. This harmonizes the Korean SAR requirements with FCC and other international standard requirements. Low powered radio devices (below 20mW) are exempt from this new requirement.

Learn how to gain certification for the Korean market using a Conformity Assessment Body (CAB) under Phase I of the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation Mutual Recognition Agreement for Conformity Assessment of Telecommunications Equipment (APEC Tel MRA).

Starting this month in San Francisco, retailers are required to list the Specific Absorption Rate of all mobile phones they sell. The city is the first locality in the United States to have such a requirement.

Here are the key points of the new ordinance that was signed into law last July:

The Specific Absorption Rate or SAR must be listed on a 1.00” x 1.62” minimum label, with the SAR value in Arial 11-point type or larger

Optionally, retailers can post an 8.50” x 11.00” or larger sign that lists SAR values for the phones they carry

Effective date is February 1, 2011

Fines for non-compliance start at $300USD

A cell phone’s SAR is a measure of the amount of radio frequency (RF) energy absorbed by the body when using the handset. The SAR value is determined by Specific Absorption Rate testing, as conducted by MET Labs and other test labs.

The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) mandates that all cell phones sold in the U.S. must not exceed a SAR level of 1.6 W/kg¹ for 1-g volume-averaged. Canada and Australia have the same limit, while Europe is more liberal, with a cap of 2 W/kg¹ for 10-g volume-averaged.

Since the San Francisco legislation, and subsequent CTIA lawsuit to reverse it, industry observers have wondered whether the leftist city has started a trend, or is an anomaly. Then came word this week that an Oregon senator introduced a bill on Monday that would require warning labels on cell phones and wireless device packaging in that state.

Time will tell whether it will die like other initiatives in Maine, other California cities, and on the federal level, but one thing is for sure: The CTIA Wireless 2011 tradeshow won’t be held in San Francisco this year. The wireless industry group has vowed to boycott the city for major events until the cell phone labeling law is reversed.

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